Explosive-engine.



H.J.P0DLEAK.

I EXPLOBIVE ENGINE. APPLIOATIOK FILED 13110.7, 1910.

III-Z5555 INVEN'TUR J. H v I" "7 .Wn/M

ATTORNEY.

UNITE1) STATES PATENT oFFioE.

H ms J'. PonLEsAK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXPLQ SIVE-ENGINE.

engines, and relates more particularly to high tension ignition apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of,a novel apparatus of this character in which a magneto generator is employed, the apparatus being so designed that effective sparking is obtainable at the spark plug when the rotary element of the generator turns at a comparatively low speed, as in starting the engine or when the engine is of a low speed design;

Another object of the invention is to employ, in connection with the magneto, a novelly arranged condenser and circuit make and break device so related to the primary winding of the transformer that the energizing current will be passed through a portion of the primary winding to store energy in the circuit by the inductance of the magneto winding or of a special winding for that purpose, whereby a flow of current will take place through the whole of the primary winding'and charge the condenser when the energizmg circuit is interrupted, this flow incident to the charging of the condenser serving to create a magnetic flux in the transformer whereby the secondary winding will be energized and a high potential current produced through the spark plug.

. With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention comprises the various novel fea-' tures of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the system applicable to a single cylinder engine. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the system applicable to a four cylinder engine. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the system designed for amulti-cylinder engine and employing a transformer for each spark plug. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the system as used in con- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 7, 1910. Serial No. 596,063.

States, residing atnection with a self-contained high tension magneto. Fig. 5 is a further modification whereby an additional transformation of energy will take place by the condenser discharging through the primary winding.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

. Referring to the drawing, Gr designates a generator of the magneto type that comprises a permanent magnet M having pole pieces L between which rotates an armature '1' that has wound around it a generating winding W, all of which also operate as an inductance device. Theterminals of the Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

winding W are connected, respectively, to

the wires 1 and 3 of the supply circuit. The wire 1 is connected with one terminal of the condenser C, while the other terminal is connected by a wire 2 with the primary winding of the transformer The wire 3 connects with the other terminal of the primary winding so that the latter, together with the condenser G and winding W, are in series relation. The primary winding is composed of two sections P and P" connected in series relation, and from the juncture between the two sections leads a wire 1 that connects with a make and break device D. This device includes a spring-pressed blade I) which is pivoted at h and is connected by a wire 5 with the wire 1. On the blade 7) is acontact pointc which is adapted to engage a fixed contact a thatis mounted on a metal support 1 to which the wire 4 is electrically connected.

On the blade 6 is a roller r that is adapted to engage a cam wheel 70 that has a depression in its periphery so arranged as to permit the contact 0 to engage the contact n and close a shunt around the condenser and the section P of the transformer primary winding. The cam is is operatively related with the armature ofthe magneto so that it will permit the circuit to be closed by the through the path' consisting of the winding W, wires 1 and 5, blade b, contacts c and n, wire 4, section P", wire 3, and wind ing. Energy is thus stored up in the circuit,

due to the inductance which the magneto armature possesses and as a consequence an inductive'charge will pass through the whole of thgctransformer. primary and cause the condenser to be charged as soon as the shunt I is opened by the contact a separating from the contact 12.. This sudden passage of curtween the spark plug electrode e, the said electrodes being-connected witlrthe secondary winding bythe wires 8 and 9. When ;the engine 1s operating at high speed, the

circuit will be so quickly completed again, by the contact 0 engaging the contact 12,, that the condenser will be capable of discharging before the charge leaks away. This condenser discharging impulse takes place through the path consisting of the condenser C, wire 2, section P, wire 4, make and break device D, wires 5 and 1, and condenser G. Another transformation of energy willthus take place and cause a second spark at the spark plug so as to ignite the charge if, for any reason, the first spark fails.

It may be desirable in low speed engines to provide for positively discharging the condenser so as .to create two electrical effects or transformations of energy, namely, by the charging and discharging of the condenser. For this purpose, an extra contact m may be employed in connection with the make and break device D, as shown in Fig. 5, the said contact being connected by a wire 6 with the wire 3. .It will be recalled that when the contact a separated from the contact n, Fig. 1, an impulse, due to the inductance in the circuit, traversed the primary winding and charged the condenser. Immediately following this separation of the contacts 0 and a, the contact a will, with the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, engage the contact m, and establish a circuit through' which the condenser discharges. This 011.- cuit consists of. the condenserC, wire v2, windings P and P", wires 3 and 6, contacts m and 0, blades 6, wires 5 and 1, and condenser y In Fig. 2, the primary circuit is the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that the cam disk k is designed to make and break the circuit four times in each revolution, and the system differs further as regards the secondary circuit. In'the secondary circuit is a distributer blade F which rotates with the cam 70. This blade is connected by a wire 8 with the secondary winding S and is adapted to move over spaced segments 8.

From these segments lead wires .8, 8", 8, 8",

connected wit the spark plugs of the engine, respectively, and from the rimary winding extends a wire 9 which orms a common return wire that connects with all v,the spark plugs. The operation of this system is the same as that described in connection with Fig. 1, 'and the sparks pass through the spark plugs successively by the operation ofthe distributer blade.

The system de icted in Fig. 3 contemplates the use 0 a transformer for each spark plug, and the transformers are successively connected in circuit with the source of current or magneto by a distributer blade F that moves over spaced segments 8. The wire 2 leading from the condenser has branches 2", 2", 2, that connect, res ectively, with the sections P, P, P, of the primary windings, and the wire 4 has branches 4, 4, 4, that connect with the two sections, respectively, of the primary windings at their junctures. The sections P",P",P,' are connected, respectively, with wires 3, 3

and 3, that lead to theindividualsegments s of the distributingfdevice. To understand the operation of this system, it will be necessary to describe merely the circuits fora single transformer. When the distributer blade F is in contact with the segments that is connected with the wire 3, and when the blade I) of the circuit make and break device has its contact a in engagement with the contact n, current willfiow through the path consisting of the winding W, wires 1 and 5, blade b, contacts 0 and'n, wires 4 and 4:, winding P"f wirp 3 distributer blade F, wire 3, and winding W. In this flow of current, energy IS'StOIGd in the circuit by means of the winding W so that as soon as the contacts a and n separate, an impulse will be created, due to the inductance of the winding W, the flow being through a circuit consisting of the winding W, wire 1,'

condenser C, wires 2 and 2,'windin s P" and .P" of the transformer, distributer blade F, which is still in contact with its segment, wire 3, and windin W. By this flow through the whole 05 the primary winding, a current is induced ary winding S so that a spark will jump across thegap q-.between--.the electrodes e.

The rinciple of thisinvention is readily suscept1ble of embodiment in what is usually termed selfcontained high tension magnetos, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The armature I serves as a transformer as well as serving to generate the current. The primary winding consists of two sections P and P", that have their outer terminals connected with the wires 3 and 2, respectively, said wires being in turn connected with the opposite terminals of a dondenser C. From the inner te minals or juncture of the two sections of the primary winding leads a wire 4 that connects with a special form of make and break device. This device includes spaced contactsn and m electrically connected by a metal support f to which support the wire 4 is connected. Between the contacts m and 72 moves a contact a on a blade 6 pivoted at h and connected by the wire 5 to the wire 2.

On the blade 6 is a roller r that rides on a.

in the secondcam disk In that is adapted to turn with the armature. The roller is held against the periphery of the cam disk by a spring a bearing against the blade b. The cam disk 5 is so constructed that approximately one half will be of such a radius that contact canbe made between contacts a and m, and the remaining half of such radius that contact will be made between contacts and n, so that the two impulses in each revolution of the armature will be utilized. The secondary winding S is inductively related to the primary winding and is connected by wires 8 and 9 with the electrodes e of the spark plug. When the contacts 0 and m are engaged, current will flow through the section P of the primary winding, wires 2 and 5, blade b, contacts a and on, wire 4, and winding section P. As soon as the contact 0 is disengaged from the contact m by the movement of the cam 70, the energy stored up in the winding P, due to inductance, will create an impulse through the circuit and charge the condenser, the current flowing through the windings P and P. wire 2, condenser C, wire 3, and windings P and P. A magnetic flux is thus set up which induces a current in the secondary circuit so that a spark will jump across the gap (1. 30 WVhen the contact a engages the contact n, the condenser will discharge through the winding P and cause another electrical effeet in the transformer, which will result in another spark. Energizing current also 35 flows through the section P, the same as it did when the contact c engages the contact m. The separation ofthe contacts 0 and n is followed by the charging of the condenser and a flow through the primary winding.

.40 In the diagram, the primary and secondary windings are represented as being wound around the core of the movable armature.v

When employing the inductor type of mag neto, in which the rotary part is unwoun and the windings stationary, no brushes, collector rings, and the like, are necessary.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the'art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it under stood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having'thus described the invention, what I claim as new, is

1. In an ignition system, the combination I of a primary winding, a secondary winding inductively related to the primary winding,

a circuit containing capacity and the primary winding in series relation, means for supplying electric current to the circuit, a shunt circuit in parallel with the capacity and a portion of the primary winding, and meansfor intermittently closing and opening the shunt circuit.

2. In an ignition system, the combination of a primary winding, a secondary winding adapted to be efiectively energized inductively from the primary winding when the whole of thelatter is traversed by current, a circuit possessing inductance and containing source of current and means for causing current to pass intermittently through only 30 apart of the primary winding, and a condenser so related to the primary winding and to said circuit so as to cause the electric impulse due to inductance to traverse the whole of the' primary winding. 5 3. In an ignition system, the combination of a transformer, a circuit containing a source of current and possessing inductance in which only a part of the primary winding of the transformer is included, means for periodically closing and opening the circuit, a condenser so related to the said circuit and primary winding as to be charged by a flow through the whole of the primary winding upon the opening of the circuit, and a secondary circuit connected with the transformer and including a device for producing a spark by current induced by the primary winding during the charging of the condenser. V

4. In an ignition system, the combination of a transformer consisting of inductively related primary and secondary windings, the former comprising two sections connected in series, a circuit possessing inductance, means for closing the circuit to produce a momentary flow of current through one section of the winding, a condenser connected with the winding whereby current flows through the Whole of the winding to" the condenser due to inductance when the flow through the one section of the winding is interrupt d, a secondary winding energized by the current flow through the whole primary winding, and a sparking device connected with the secondary winding.

5. In an ignition system, the combination of a primary winding, a secondary winding in inductive relation to' the primary winding, a sparking device connected with the secondary winding, a circuit containing the primary winding and a condenser in series relation, means for supplying electric energy to said circuit, a shunt circuit in parallel with the condenser and including a 1 5 portion of the primary winding, and means for closing and opening the shunt circuit.

6. In an ignition system, the combination of a source of current possessing inductance, a transformer primary winding having one terminal connected with the source,

electro-motive force and possessing inductance, a transformer primary winding havmg one termmal connected with one tertminal of the magneto winding, a condenser connected with the other terminals of the windings, a shunt connected between the condenser and magneto winding and connected with the primary winding at an intermediate' point, and means. for opening and closing the shunt at approximately the maximum generation of the electro-motive force. i

8. In'an ignition system, the combination of a magneto generator including an armature winding, :3. primary winding, a condenser, a circuit including the winding and condenser in series relation, a shunt around the condenser anda portion of the primary winding, means operating simultaneously and synchronously with the armature to 'close and open the shunt, a secondary winding inductively related to the primary wmdin'gfand a sparking device connected with the'siecondary winding;

9. In an ignition'system, the combination of'a magneto-generator including an armature winding-5a primary winding connected with the armature, winding, a condenser moving simultaneously 250,

4 tion of a connected with both'windings, a shunt con-, nected between the condenser and armature wmdln and vwith the. primary winding in- "term rate the ends thereof, said shunt includinga make and break device-consisting of relatively movable contacts, and a device and synchronously withtheialrmature toic ose and open the cirhrough the-contacts.

'- 4 10. In ignition sys tem,-thecombina transformer .pri'nia'ry winding, a

supply-circuit possessing inductance, a condenser connectedwith the circuit-and winding to receive an inductiveimpulse through the whole of the win'ding upon the opening of "the" circuit, means j for successively closing and opening the circuit through a 'por- -tion. of said winding to charge the condenondary winding inductively relatedto the primary winding, and a sparking device connected with the secondary winding.

11, In an ignition system, the combination of a transformer primary winding, a supply circuit possessing inductance connected with the terminals of the winding, a condenser in the circuit, a shunt in parallel with the condenser and a portion of the winding, a device for opening the shunt and causing an inductive impulse to traverse the entire winding in charging the condenser, a circuit established by the make and, break device for discharging the condenser through the winding, a secondary winding inductively related to the primary winding, and a sparking device connected with the secondary winding.

12. In an ignition system, the combination of a magneto armature, a primary winding, conductors connecting the windmgs in series relation, a condenser included in oneof the conductors, a make and break device for opening and closing a shunt around the condenser and a portion oi the primary winding and another shunt around the condenser and the whole of the primary v winding, saiddevice including a movable contact and a pair of contacts with which the movable contact alternately engages,

'means for operating themovable contact,

a connection between the movable contact and the conductor that includes the condenser, a connection between one of the dpair of contacts and the other conductor, an a connection between the other one of the pair of contacts and intermediate portion of the winding whereby an energizing, current flows through a part of the primary winding when the movable contact engages one of the flied contacts and an inductive impulse passes through the whole of the primary winding to the condenser when the circuit is broken'and a discharging current passes from the condenser, through the primary Winding when the movable contact engages the other fixed contact.

In testimony whereof I aflix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.-

HENRY. J, PODLESAK,

Witnesses:

H.'W. CooK, ELMEBMCCORMICK. 1 

